The Avalon Trials by Devon Thiele

Author:Devon Thiele [Thiele, Devon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evermore Publishing
Published: 2024-01-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eighteen

A dim glow of light permeated through the darkness as Linden and I made our way through the forest. A short distance away, another light flickered. “What is that?” I asked.

“Torches. We’re close to the village.”

Other torches flickered slightly in the distance as Linden and I neared the first batch of flames. “Be ready,” Linden warned. “They’ll have guards posted. They’ll recognize me.”

Linden’s warning proved timely as I froze at the sound of a bow drawing back. I raised my hands. “Don’t shoot.”

“Please don’t shoot,” Linden said as his hand rose to his chest.

“I thought you said they’d recognize you,” I hissed.

“They’re with me.” Lochlyn’s voice cut through the night like a song. “I wondered when the two of you would stumble into camp. You made good time.”

Lochlyn stepped into view, looking every bit like a rogue in a loose white tunic and tightfitting black pants. Black boots that molded to her calves completed the ensemble. Her blue eyes dropped to Linden’s chest. “Since you’re upright, I assume the healing worked.”

“It did,” Linden said as we fell into step behind her. “We decided to push forward versus risk a night in the woods on our own.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t have been alone,” Lochlyn said with a wink over her shoulder at us. “The Corvine Brotherhood has been out and about. One wandered too close a day or so ago.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Does that mean we have one?”

“We do. He’s not quite ready to talk yet, but we figured we should wait for the two of you to see how far you want to take the pressure. Will’s been waiting to see if you’d show tonight…” Lochlyn’s voice trailed off.

I nodded. “I’d like to see him. I think the near death by assassin probably freaked him out. More so than the mythical island adventure.”

“Follow me.”

The village nestled amongst the trees. I craned my neck to get a better look at the houses built off the ground, like larger, elaborate tree houses. Gleaming wooden bridges spanned the homes above us and staircases led to the ground. Flames contained in orbs of glass hung from the walkways and lit the paths. Grass came up to my knees in places but as we turned down another line of cabins, the grass had been worn to dust by the frequent passers-by.

Lochlyn led us to a smaller nook of buildings. A door opened, and Will filled the doorway. Relief washed over his face. He quickly made his way down the walkway and stairs to crush me in a hug. He wrapped an arm around Linden’s neck and gave him an awkward one-armed hug. “Linden, man, it’s good to see you.”

“So you can strangle me after Cordy saved me?” Linden choked out.

Will released the two of us. “Sorry. I didn’t know if I’d ever get to see the two of you again. And I’m glad to have you here.”

“Glad to be here.”

Lochlyn took Linden to another cabin less than fifty feet away, giving Will and I some distance.

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